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LGHL Buckeye Heroes: Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
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Buckeye Heroes: Mike Nugent is undoubtedly the best kicker in Ohio State history
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
The 2004 Lou Groza Award winner holds most of the school’s kicking records.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are so many challenges college football coaches have to deal with on and off the field. One of those on the field challenges is finding a reliable place kicker.
Even if you think you have a kicker who is nearly automatic, it seems to never fail that they end up missing when the game is on the line. Just look at Noah Ruggles in the 2022 season, where he was 17-19 before missing a really tough 50-yard field goal with the Buckeyes trailing Georgia by a point late in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to the most reliable kicker in Ohio State history, there is no doubt who has earned that title. Aside from career and single season field goal percentage, which are both held by Ruggles, Mike Nugent holds pretty much every other Ohio State kicking record. Nugent came to Ohio State from Centerville, where he was a teammate of linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Heading into the 2001 season, not only was Jim Tressel trying to find his footing as he transitioned from Youngstown State to Ohio State, the Buckeyes were looking for a new kicker. Mike Nugent and Josh Huston battled it out for the starting position, with Nugent eventually winning the job.
The first year for Nugent wasn’t anything special statistically, as he was 7-14 in field goals and 23-25 on extra points. Luckily for Nugent, Tressel had some patience with the kicker since not only was Nugent a freshman, the Buckeyes were just 7-5 in Tressel’s first season in Columbus.
The 2002 season is where Nugent started to break out and assert himself as one of the top kickers in the country. Not only did Nugent hit 25 of his 28 field goal attempts, he hit all but one of his 46 extra point attempts. Nugent finished the season with 120 total points on an Ohio State team that went on to upset Miami in the BCS National Championship Game.
Along with being a national champion, Nugent was a consensus All-American and named second-team All-Big Ten.
Even though Ohio State wasn’t able to repeat as national champions in 2003, Nugent still put together a strong season for the Buckeyes. Much like his sophomore season, Nugent only missed three of his field goal attempts as a junior, and it marked the first season where he hit all of his extra point attempts.
Overall, the Buckeye offense struggled at times to put points on the scoreboard since they were trying to replace running back Maurice Clarett, but Nugent took care of his business when his number was called. For the second year in a row Nugent was named second-team All-Big Ten.
While Nugent’s senior season wasn’t statistically his best, it certainly was his most memorable in the scarlet and gray. In his final season in Columbus, Nugent was 24-27 on field goal attempts and he hit all 30 of his extra point attempts to finish with 102 points.
What made the season more impressive for Nugent is he hit an incredible 55-yard field goal at the end of regulation to beat Marshall 24-21 in Ohio State’s second game of the season, and the next week he followed it up with five field goals in a 22-14 win at North Carolina State. The five field goals in a game tied Bob Atha’s school single-game record, and was later matched by Josh Huston and Devin Barclay.
Nugent’s spectacular senior season earned him unanimous All-American honors, a first-team All-Big Ten spot, and the prestigious Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best college placekicker. Along with all those accolades, Nugent became the first kicker in school history to be named the team’s MVP. Had it not been for Nugent, the Buckeyes definitely wouldn’t have earned a spot in the BCS, where they went on to defeat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25529644/53359451.jpg "MasterCard Alamo Bowl")
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Nugent was so impressive during his college career that the New York Jets drafted him with the 47th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Most teams opt to pick up their placekickers either in the latter rounds of the draft or in free agency, making it rare for kickers to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Since 2000, only Sebastian Janikowski has been selected higher in the draft than Nugent.
Following four seasons with the Jets to start his NFL career, Nugent bounced around to a couple teams before finding success back in Ohio with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent seven years. The final stop in Nugent’s NFL career was in Arizona, where he would appear in four games for the Cardinals in 2020.
Nugent finished his NFL career by making 265 of his 327 field goal attempts, amassing 1,180 career points. Not only did Nugent have six seasons of at least 100 points, he racked up 132 points for the Bengals in 2011.
Even before his NFL career was over, Nugent was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2019. The Centerville product still holds school records for most field goals made in a career, most field goals made in a season, and is tied for most field goals made in a game. Nugent also has the second-highest career field goal percentage, and three of the top-nine single-season field goal percentages, including the third and fourth-best single-season percentages.
These days with analytics, coaches seem to be relying on kickers less, opting instead to leave the offenses out on the field more. Ryan Day’s thought process might change a bit if he had a kicker like Mike Nugent at his disposal. If there is going to be a kicker to oust Nugent from the throne as the best kicker in school history, they’ll have to put together an incredible career since Nugent is the most decorated Buckeye kicker by a wide margin.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
The 2004 Lou Groza Award winner holds most of the school’s kicking records.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are so many challenges college football coaches have to deal with on and off the field. One of those on the field challenges is finding a reliable place kicker.
Even if you think you have a kicker who is nearly automatic, it seems to never fail that they end up missing when the game is on the line. Just look at Noah Ruggles in the 2022 season, where he was 17-19 before missing a really tough 50-yard field goal with the Buckeyes trailing Georgia by a point late in the fourth quarter.
When it comes to the most reliable kicker in Ohio State history, there is no doubt who has earned that title. Aside from career and single season field goal percentage, which are both held by Ruggles, Mike Nugent holds pretty much every other Ohio State kicking record. Nugent came to Ohio State from Centerville, where he was a teammate of linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Heading into the 2001 season, not only was Jim Tressel trying to find his footing as he transitioned from Youngstown State to Ohio State, the Buckeyes were looking for a new kicker. Mike Nugent and Josh Huston battled it out for the starting position, with Nugent eventually winning the job.
The first year for Nugent wasn’t anything special statistically, as he was 7-14 in field goals and 23-25 on extra points. Luckily for Nugent, Tressel had some patience with the kicker since not only was Nugent a freshman, the Buckeyes were just 7-5 in Tressel’s first season in Columbus.
The 2002 season is where Nugent started to break out and assert himself as one of the top kickers in the country. Not only did Nugent hit 25 of his 28 field goal attempts, he hit all but one of his 46 extra point attempts. Nugent finished the season with 120 total points on an Ohio State team that went on to upset Miami in the BCS National Championship Game.
Along with being a national champion, Nugent was a consensus All-American and named second-team All-Big Ten.
Even though Ohio State wasn’t able to repeat as national champions in 2003, Nugent still put together a strong season for the Buckeyes. Much like his sophomore season, Nugent only missed three of his field goal attempts as a junior, and it marked the first season where he hit all of his extra point attempts.
Overall, the Buckeye offense struggled at times to put points on the scoreboard since they were trying to replace running back Maurice Clarett, but Nugent took care of his business when his number was called. For the second year in a row Nugent was named second-team All-Big Ten.
While Nugent’s senior season wasn’t statistically his best, it certainly was his most memorable in the scarlet and gray. In his final season in Columbus, Nugent was 24-27 on field goal attempts and he hit all 30 of his extra point attempts to finish with 102 points.
What made the season more impressive for Nugent is he hit an incredible 55-yard field goal at the end of regulation to beat Marshall 24-21 in Ohio State’s second game of the season, and the next week he followed it up with five field goals in a 22-14 win at North Carolina State. The five field goals in a game tied Bob Atha’s school single-game record, and was later matched by Josh Huston and Devin Barclay.
Nugent’s spectacular senior season earned him unanimous All-American honors, a first-team All-Big Ten spot, and the prestigious Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best college placekicker. Along with all those accolades, Nugent became the first kicker in school history to be named the team’s MVP. Had it not been for Nugent, the Buckeyes definitely wouldn’t have earned a spot in the BCS, where they went on to defeat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Nugent was so impressive during his college career that the New York Jets drafted him with the 47th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Most teams opt to pick up their placekickers either in the latter rounds of the draft or in free agency, making it rare for kickers to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Since 2000, only Sebastian Janikowski has been selected higher in the draft than Nugent.
Following four seasons with the Jets to start his NFL career, Nugent bounced around to a couple teams before finding success back in Ohio with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent seven years. The final stop in Nugent’s NFL career was in Arizona, where he would appear in four games for the Cardinals in 2020.
Nugent finished his NFL career by making 265 of his 327 field goal attempts, amassing 1,180 career points. Not only did Nugent have six seasons of at least 100 points, he racked up 132 points for the Bengals in 2011.
Even before his NFL career was over, Nugent was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2019. The Centerville product still holds school records for most field goals made in a career, most field goals made in a season, and is tied for most field goals made in a game. Nugent also has the second-highest career field goal percentage, and three of the top-nine single-season field goal percentages, including the third and fourth-best single-season percentages.
These days with analytics, coaches seem to be relying on kickers less, opting instead to leave the offenses out on the field more. Ryan Day’s thought process might change a bit if he had a kicker like Mike Nugent at his disposal. If there is going to be a kicker to oust Nugent from the throne as the best kicker in school history, they’ll have to put together an incredible career since Nugent is the most decorated Buckeye kicker by a wide margin.
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LGHL What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
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What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
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With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25530380/the_thing_fantastic_four_ohio_state_offensive_line.jpg)
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What superhero would make the best addition to Ohio State’s football roster?
Jami’s Take: Iron Man at Tight End
With its impressive 2024 football roster—arguably one of the most talented in the country on paper—some might argue the Ohio State Buckeyes already have a few superheroes on the squad.
With graduate transfer Will Howard taking over as quarterback, who put up decent stats at Kansas State even without the arsenal of weapons he’ll have at his disposal as a Buckeye, some of the offensive woes should come to an end.
But it’s really the Buckeyes’ roster of skill players that sets them apart from the competition. The one area they could use a little help (and even this is just gravy) is tight end. With Cade Stover heading to the NFL to play for the Texans next year, tight end is the one potential weakness in the Buckeyes’ offense (though don’t fret too much—the Buckeyes still have an experienced tight end in Gee Scott, Jr., a graduate student who put up decent numbers in 2023).
Still, tight end is the one position where they don’t have a superstar. So this is where they could perhaps make use of a Superhero—in this case, Iron Man.
As a hybrid position, elite tight ends must be able to do double duty as an eligible receiver and an effective blocker for the offense. Their size can be a key factor in making them a weapon, and Iron Man has that going for him, coming in at 6’6” in the comics (the same height as legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski, for example), which would give him an advantage both in blocking and receiving.
Additionally, Iron Man’s armor is the source of superhuman strength and the ability to fly, both of which would give him the ability to blast through defensive lines (or simply fly right over them).
He possesses both the physical skills and the smart, intuitive decision-making tight ends must have in order to read and react to plays quickly, with the instincts and superpowers to catch anything that comes your way. Flying would also come into play here, as Iron Man could theoretically catch a ball even if it were off-target, giving the quarterback the option to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure and trust that Iron Man would be there to scoop it up.
Where blocking is concerned, Iron Man has another weapon in his arsenal, in addition to his strength—his energy projection ability. Imagine being a defender, trying to go up against Iron Man, and he simply blasts you with a burst of energy to keep you back. It would be hard to combat that as an average human (or even a very talented above-average human).
I don’t know that the Buckeyes need much help from a superhero on this season’s roster, but if the opportunity to recruit Iron Man presented itself, suffice it to say I wouldn’t balk at the idea.
Matt’s Take: The Fantastic Four’s The Thing at Right Guard
You know, if this question had been posed slightly differently, I would have gone with Batman, because while he wouldn’t bring nearly as much to the field as the heroes who have been injected with a super-serum, bitten by a radioactive spider, or is made nearly invincible by the rays of a yellow sun, in today’s world of college football, having a billionaire like Bruce Wayne able to funnel a shit-ton of money into NIL would be helpful.
However, the question specifically mentions the Buckeyes’ roster. So, it needs to be someone who can help as a player. And — again, unfortunately — it does need to be a superhero, otherwise, I would be taking Thanos in a heartbeat. In addition to being absolutely massively imposing figure, imagine him as an offensive lineman leading the way for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as he has the ability to literally snap his fingers to eliminate half of the opposing defense.
Alas, I have to go with a good guy. So, I am picking Ben Grimm, The Fantastic Four founding member known as The Thing. First off, he went to Empire State University on a football scholarship, so we know that he’s got the football pedigree to be a contributor for the Buckeyes. Secondly, according to Marvel, The Thing officially measures at 6-foot, 500 pounds, although, like most athletic measurements, those appear to be less than reliable. Nonetheless, can you imagine a rock-solid, 500-pounder stepping into right guard for the Buckeyes this season?
The OSU offensive line is the most suspect part of the roster heading into this season. However, it does appear to be settled that Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson will handle the left side with Seth McLaughlin taking over at center after transferring from Alabama. Then, at right tackle, Josh Fryar will stay there. That means that the biggest opening would be at RG, and while you probably want a guard to be taller than 6-feet, it’s tough to argue with Grimm’s build.
Also, there shouldn’t be any concern about him picking up the complicated offensive line protections in Columbus. He studied engineering while in college, was a military pilot, and eventually an astronaut. So his mental acuity wouldn’t be in question at a position that notoriously takes a while to pick up the playbook.
So, Buckeye Nation, help me in welcoming your new starting right guard, Ben “The Thing” Grimm. ”It’s clobberin’ time!”
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
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LGHL You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
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You’re Nuts: What is the most heroic performance you’ve seen from a Buckeye?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes. Whether they are the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history, or underappreciated icons; perhaps even players who made major impacts off the field. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.
There are times when a player puts a team on his back and wills them to victory. It could be either from a player performing at such a high level they bring up their teammates, or they might be fighting through personal or physical issues and their presence inspires their teammates, much like Willis Reed did for the New York Knicks when he hobbled out for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals.
Today we want to know about some heroic performances by Ohio State players over the years. When we say heroic it doesn’t necessarily mean a player was physically injured like Reed was in the NBA Finals. Maybe it was a Buckeye who was playing out of his mind in a game, which resulted in Ohio State winning an important game. What are some performances by the Buckeyes that will live forever in Ohio State lore?
Today’s question: What is the most heroic performance you have seen from a Buckeye?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: J.T. Tuimoloau against Penn State in 2022
Games at Penn State are never easy for Ohio State. The Buckeyes entered the late October contest in State College undefeated and ranked second in the country. Ohio State took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but the Nittany Lions fought back and took a 21-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. On the next drive, the Buckeyes regained the lead in just three plays when TreVeyon Henderson scampered 41 yards for a score.
With Ohio State holding a 23-21 lead, J.T. Tuimoloau really put his stamp on the game. The five-star defensive end had already been a handful for the Nittany Lions throughout the game prior to the drive, as earlier in the game he tipped a pass that ended up being intercepted by teammate Zach Harrison. Then on the second play of Penn State’s drive after Ohio State regained the lead, Tuimoloau sacked quarterback Sean Clifford while forcing a fumble and recovering the football. On the very next play, C.J. Stroud found Cade Stover for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 30-21.
Following a Penn State field goal, the Buckeyes would again find the end zone to restore their two-score lead with less than three minutes to go. Tuimoloau still had one more trick up his sleeve, as on his next defensive snap he leaped to pick off Clifford and return the interception 14 yards for a score. When it was all said and done, Tuimoloau finished with six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
How good was Tuimoloau on that day in State College? The Seattle product was just the second FBS player since 2000 with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble in a game. What we saw from Tuimoloau back in 2022 against Penn State is not only in the conversation as one of the best defensive performances in a game by a player in Buckeye history, it is one of the most dominant defensive performances in a game in college football history.
What makes Tuimoloau’s historic game even more memorable is it came in a game where Ohio State was on the ropes. Penn State had all the momentum after taking the lead in the fourth quarter and the tide was turned with Tuimoloau’s efforts. Had it not been for Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes might have not gone on to win the game and make the College Football Playoff. Tuimoloau set the bar very high for the best individual defensive performance in a game in school history.
Matt’s answer: J.T. Barett against Penn State in 2017
It’s funny, when Brett suggested this week’s topic, I immediately thought of J.T. over Penn State... little did I know that he also was thinking of J.T. against the Nits. The only thing is that we had different J.T.s in. mind; he went with Jaylahn and I went with Joe Thomas.
Midway through the third quarter of the Buckeyes’ 2017 game in Columbus, the visiting Nittany Lions led by 15, but with the ball in J.T. Barrett’s hands, the OSU offense was essentially perfect in the final quarter. Barrett went 13-for-13 for 170 yards in the final frame — including three touchdowns. The Bucks outscored PSU 19-3 in the final quarter to win 39-38.
On the day, Barrett was 33-of-39 for 318 yards passing and 4 TDs; he had an additional 95 yards on the ground. Decked out in those odd, all-gray uniforms, Barrett led a team that was looking to avoid losses to the Lions in consecutive years — something that has never happened in the history of this rivalry.
To me, this game is the peak of Barrett’s career. While he might never be considered amongst the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, I think it is difficult to argue against him being one of the greatest. To me, the best is about athleticism, skills, physical dominance, etc. But greatest takes into account so much more: wins, leadership, record vs. your rival, the totality of your career.
J.T. Barrett left an inarguably massive mark on the Ohio State football program and his legacy should never be forgotten. He might not have been Superman, but he was a more than capable Clark Kent; under the radar, stepping up when he was called upon, and being the right kind of hero when his team needed him the most.
There is no doubt that this is The J.T. Barrett Game!
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